Article excerpt

IT'S a dream assignment for any rookie reporter - interview the world's hottest author at the launch of the world's hottest book.

So when the Daily Mirror asked me to be their girl on the spot at Edinburgh Castle, when Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince is published, I jumped at the chance.

My drawing of Harry's friend Hermione was voted the best of all in their picture competition.

My prize is a special invitation to the book launch, then I get to interview author JK Rowling as the Mirror's Harry Potter Correspondent.

And I'm the ideal person for the job - I've read all her books at least five times.

For anyone who's never experienced the magical world of Hogwarts, every day next week I'll be telling the story so far in the Mirror.

I've been mad about the books since my mum started reading Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone to me at bedtime when I was six.

All the magic and mystery is brilliant, and I fell in love with the characters straight away.

Even the Dursleys are a bit funny, even though I think they are horrible.

I liked Hagrid right from the beginning but my favourite character is Hermione. That's why I drew her for my winning entry to the Mirror's competition.

She's exactly the same as me - she's clever, sometimes funny, bosses the boys about and helps people with their homework. It would be amazing to go to Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry, like her.

I could learn magic and try and make my dad fly - or make him lose weight. …